11:29 PM,
Nov. 10, 2012

Gypsy Donut partners B.J. Allen and David Schloss, from left, used Kickstarter to fund their Nyack shop.

Written by

Linda Lomboso

Last month, Steven Van Zandt made a splash on Kickstarter when he raised $123,000 to fund a Rascals reunion show at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

But it's not just celebrities who are jumping on the crowd-funding craze. Local performers, nonprofits, artists and start-ups are taking advantage of sites like Kickstarter, GoFundMe and Indiegogo to raise money and build a community of supporters who help them fulfill their dreams.

For 18-year-old Nicole Zadra of Irvington, crowd funding may be the only way for her to continue dancing at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. For musician ...